Augustus
Justinian
dependent on trade
Roman empire
Byzantine empire
Augustus and Justinian were both Roman emperors. Augustus, also known as Gaius Octavius, was the first emperor of the Roman Empire, ruling from 27 BCE until his death in 14 CE. He ushered in the Pax Romana, a period of relative peace that lasted for more than two centuries. Under Augustus, the borders of the empire expanded, and the economy and infrastructure of the empire were strengthened.
Justinian, also known as Justinian the Great, was a ruler of the Eastern Roman Empire, or Byzantine Empire, which was the eastern part of the Roman Empire that continued to exist after the western half had fallen. He ruled from 527 to 565 CE and was known for his ambitious projects and attempts to restore the Roman Empire to its former glory. One of his most significant accomplishments was the compilation of Roman law, known as the Corpus Juris Civilis, which formed the basis for legal systems in many European countries.
Both the Roman and Byzantine Empires were heavily dependent on trade. The trade networks of the Roman Empire connected regions within the empire and reached as far as the Silk Road, facilitating the exchange of goods such as silk, spices, gold, and slaves. The economy of the Byzantine Empire also relied on trade, as it was located along important trade routes connecting Europe, Asia, and Africa. The empire's capital, Constantinople, was an important trade hub, and the empire's wealth was based in large part on commerce.
It's also worth noting that the transition between the Roman Empire and the Byzantine Empire was not an abrupt change. Rather, the Byzantine Empire evolved from the Roman Empire over many centuries. While the Western Roman Empire came to an end in the 5th century CE, the Eastern Roman Empire continued to exist until the fall of Constantinople in 1453 CE. The Byzantine Empire is a term used by historians to distinguish this later period from the earlier Roman Empire, but the people who lived during the time period of the Byzantine Empire would have considered themselves Romans, and the Byzantine Empire was a continuation of the Roman Empire's traditions, governance, and culture.